Chapter 81: Negotiations p2
…
Kailun took Winnie to the kitchen and fed her, then entrusted her to Isabella, the dance instructor.
Imprisoning her was a waste. It was better to train her for future use.
He then had some free time.
Ella was busy establishing the trading company. Anna was teaching Carol magic. Afra was training the three new knights.
Vivian, for some reason, had suddenly become a dedicated student of magic, her attribute points increasing steadily.
That left him and Phils with nothing to do. He found her in the courtyard, swinging idly on a swing.
“You’re back! Why didn’t you take me to the palace?” she asked, rushing towards him, her movements almost dog-like.
“It was too gruesome. Not suitable for children.”
“I’m not a child!” She puffed out her chest, pressing her ample bosom against his.
He couldn’t bring himself to hate her.
Her smile was infectious, like a mischievous puppy eager to cause chaos.
It was a shame she was a deviant.
“Really?” He glanced down at her chest.
“Try it and see.” She boldly grabbed his hand and placed it on her breast.
“Indeed, quite large. You win. I’ll take you with me next time.” He squeezed her breast appreciatively.
“Mmm… didn’t you say you’d find me a tutor?” She asked, her eyes glazed over.
He sat down on the swing and pulled her onto his lap. “I found one. But she’s proving to be… difficult. I’ll need to break her in first. For now, you’ll have to settle for reading.”
“Reading is boring. I’ve read everything.”
“Not everything. There are some books you haven’t explored yet.” He glanced around, ensuring they were alone.
“What kind of books?”
“Picture books. They teach you how to… store milk.”
“I don’t know. Teach me.”
“Alright. But first, you have to…”
“Okay~”
[Phils feels a sense of suffocation, but her favorability increases.]
[Phils feels her brain shaking, but her favorability increases.]
[Phils enjoys the taste and wants more. Her favorability increases.]
Under his patient guidance, her favorability reached 90. It was hard to dislike her, even with her quirks.
After she had rinsed her mouth, he began teaching her the art of governance.
He covered various techniques: appeasement, bribery, violence… But don’t misunderstand. He was simply offering examples, not encouraging her to use these methods.
He preferred to handle those matters himself.
The rest of the day was uneventful. As evening approached, a maid summoned him to the meeting room. The Rose Queen had responded.
“Old Rod, has the Rose Queen replied? What about the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms?” He entered the room, eager for updates.
He was more interested in global domination than petty squabbles.
“Yes, Master Kailun. The Rose Queen demands the return of the Eternal Fortress. She claims she can’t trust you otherwise.”
“Tell her that if she refuses to cooperate, the Xiya Kingdom will launch a full-scale invasion.”
“As you command.” Roden nodded and sent a message via magical letter.
Long-distance communication was expensive. Only someone with Roden’s resources could afford it.
Wait a minute!
Kailun realized he could do it too, and more efficiently. He just needed to allocate more attribute points to Magic and Spirit.
He would handle the next communication himself.
They received inquiries from the Madden and Kaz kings, requesting details of his proposed partnership.
He shared a sanitized version of his plan. Upon learning that he demanded a substantial sum of gold, they both refused. The first round of negotiations had failed.
He wasn’t concerned. They would lose several cities tonight. With his encouragement, the Rose Queen would become even more aggressive.
“Master Kailun, the Rose Queen has inquired about the specifics of our partnership.”
As expected, she had responded within an hour.
Kailun, excited, took over Roden’s duties and engaged in a lengthy conversation with her.
The exchange was… cordial. It involved threats, more threats, and even more threats… followed by a mutually beneficial agreement.
[Rose despises your audacity. She considers you a shameless villain. Favorability -30.]
[Rose, forced to make a difficult decision, reluctantly agrees to your demands. Favorability -20. Current favorability: -50.]
After another hour of negotiations, she finally agreed to his terms, signing a magical contract.
“Master Kailun, Miss Winnie’s parents are here. They request an audience.”
He had just finished dealing with the Rose Queen when a maid delivered this news.
“Should we send them away?” Roden, knowing Winnie’s predicament, asked.
“No. Bring them to the drawing-room. I want to see what they have to say.”
An idea sparked in his mind. He would ensure Winnie’s -100 favorability.
…
“Despicable! Utterly despicable!” The Rose Queen, normally composed and rational, fumed with rage. She had never been threatened like this before.
She was backed into a corner. If she didn’t act now, the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms would receive reinforcements, making her victory more difficult.
And she had depleted her treasury mobilizing her forces. She wouldn’t back down now.
But a three-front war was impossible. She wasn’t a god. Conquering two kingdoms simultaneously was already pushing her limits.
She gritted her teeth, signing the one-month peace treaty, her pride in tatters.
“Once I’ve conquered the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms, I’ll crush the Xiya Kingdom!” she swore.
A maid rushed in, kneeling before her. “Your Majesty, the king is attempting suicide again.”
“Let him die. No need to rescue him. His supporters are all gone. He’s useless.” She had been a duke’s daughter before the king had set his sights on her.
She had agreed to the marriage, then launched a coup on their wedding day. He had never even touched her.
“Kailun, you will pay for this! I’ll make you suffer!” She wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.
Leave a Reply